A Saturday at the Free Farm

 Here is a photo from the Bay Guardian that wasn't on line:

Since the Free Farm is such a big focus of the work I am doing it seems to be getting more attention here on this web site. On Saturday at the farm we had a Blessing Ceremony that I really enjoyed...Read more at http://freefarmstand.org/ 

The Free Farm and other great bay area projects in the Guardian!

photo by Charles Russo via SFBG

Check out this article in the SF Bay Guardian that talks about the Free Farm and the Free Farmstand, as well as a bunch of other amazing projects, many of which are friends and inspirations of ours. Get out there and get your hands dirty!

The making of an Urban Farm

this pic is from the ever awesome Cristina Ibarra

I am consistently amazed by the progress at The Free Farm, the work is moving so fast I think I've almost been taking for granted how much we've been able to accomplish in a few short months. A few weeks ago, Tree put up a really wonderful post on the Free Farmstand site about appreciation, and it really hit home with me. I feel really grateful to be a part of this project, for the partnership and hard work that has created and sustains it, and for the friends I've made and the inspiring new people I've met in the process. A big giant thank you to everyone who has been a part of it and everyone to come along the way!
I thought it seemed like a good time to post some "then" and "now" photos of our progress so far. The "then" photos reflect what the lot looked like before we started work in mid-January (yes of this year! as in 3 months ago!), and the "now" photos are from the workday this past Wednesday. I wish I had pulled off the row cover on all the farm style beds because they are all really starting to pop with vegetables. Next post, I guess! Enjoy and thank you!

cross posted to Produce to the People

Free Farm Harvest Helps Feed at Welcome Community Dinner

This Saturday's harvest of lettuces from the Free Farm went to Welcome's 2nd and 4th Saturday community dinner. Over 150 meals were served with a side of super fresh, super local, greens.


The greens started off in covered beds here. (Thanks to Carling for this great photo taken at the Saturday workday!)











Then they were harvested and packed up.










And finally found their way onto plates to feed Welcome guests!

Present Needs

Urban Share has a list of needs to drive the projects we're involved in forward. In order to have our needs met we have to ask. So, here's asking. Please bear in mind that you can either provide the whole in-kind donation of the item we need, or parts helpful in constructing it, or money to be put towards it.
Free Farm:

1. Plastic for a green house
2. Green house shelving (you'll see from the pictures below that we really need it)
3. A shed for our tools (new or used as long as it's waterproof)
   
4. Lumber for a composting toilet
5. Wheelbarrows
6. Knowledgeable folks able to lead others in tasks that need completing.
7. Hand tools
8. Lots of Compost/Manure/Woodchips

Check out this great greenhouse that the Farm received as a donation!

Blessed Be

There is so much that could be written about what is going on at the Free Farm. I wrote an update on the Free Farm Stand web site (http://freefarmstand.org/).%22...I felt amazed myself at all the work we have accomplished in such a short time."  The most recent activity happened Sunday evening when Jonathan with Feel the Earth brought over 42 flats planted with seeds that will be grown at the Free Farm and given away to gardeners all over the city to encourage more food production.

We really need a greenhouse as you can see and the grant we wrote for one was turned down so we must try again. This garden is all about manifesting, like putting it out to the universe our needs and hopefully  things will manifest themselves. On my other post I have a list of some things we want to manifest like a shed, wheelbarrows, greenhouse, gloves for our volunteers, clips to hold down our row covers, a dump truck or more of manure, moe seeds for our lettuce lawns

Besides the free yoga class coming up Wednesday at 9am Saturday April 17th will be a Blessing Ceremony before we start working 10-11am...bring your blessings!

First Free Farm Harvest!

This past Saturday at the Free Farm saw some seriously healthy looking lettuces ready for eating!



Check out the pictures of Megan and I ready to snip greens from the lettuce lawn that can be harvest three times. Our strawberries are plumping up and the lettuce heads are now big enough to eat. Everyone's hard work is finally turning into something tasty!